K-12 Technology News

Here you'll find the latest news from the education technology world, from the newest hardware and software releases to policy and funding updates to research reports to school and district tech initiatives. Looking for more in-depth coverage of important topics? Be sure to visit our Features page.

After six years of kicking around the official language for an updated Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education bill, Congress and the president have voted and signed the act into law. The Perkins Act, H.R. 2353 (115), which has been considered for reauthorization since 2012, commits between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion for the program over the next six years.

An enormous study has identified 1,271 genetic variants associated with education attainment among people with European ancestry. However, the international group of scientists that undertook the project warns that any kind of predictive power for education outcome suggested by the variants is minimal.

Excelligence Learning Corp., a K–12 technology provider, is almost ready to launch its first digital product. The Really Good Stuff Digital Learning Collection is expected in time for back-to-school activities in elementary schools.

A nonprofit to help girls learn how to launch businesses, nonprofits and community projects that "impact" their world is taking applications for its online 2018-2019 program. The latest success story is a website developed by a 16-year-old to help kids understand deportation in case their families are at risk.

A recent draft report on dual credit participation by Texas students confirmed that those who took such courses had better college outcomes than high school graduates who didn't; that they completed their college degrees faster; and that although progress is being made, a participation "disparity" still exists for "less advantaged groups."

This week, 100 girls from numerous countries, including the United States, have gathered in Tbilisi, Georgia (the country, not the state) to participate in daily STEAM activities as well as cross-cultural and leadership activities.

For the first time in 12 years, the state of California is reviewing its K–8 science course materials for adoption of new resources in time for the spring 2019 semester. Not every publisher is going to make the cut.

The top learning priority in education for technology use is personalized learning. More than nine in 10 respondents to a survey on the topic reported that in the pursuit of encouraging personalized learning their districts 1) provide software or digital curriculum to classrooms (designated by 96 percent of participants); 2) provide computing devices to classrooms (94 percent); and 3) provide professional development in personalized learning practices (92 percent). Two-thirds of districts (65 percent) also assess teachers on their implementation of personalized learning practices.

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Engaging students in STEAM subjects not only creates pathways to future job opportunities; it helps them become adept at solving all kinds of problems they might encounter, regardless of their chosen careers. Download this informative Snapshot report to explore 5 insightful articles on how to provide high-quality STEAM learning opportunities for students.
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